Monday, February 9, 2015

8th Annual Potato Day

Last Saturday Drimpton Village Hall and an enthusiastic team of helpers welcomed nearly 200 people to the annual Potato Day, run by the Clapton, Wayford, Drimpton and District Horticultural Society and Pennard Plants. It is a chance for gardeners, near and far, to select seed potatoes for growing from nearly 100 varieties on offer, with plenty of information and advice on hand. There were also plants, fruit bushes, onion sets, rhubarb  (you name it, it seemed to be available).

Setting out the tables
Setting out the tables
Plants and Potatoes all ready
Plants and Potatoes all ready


Kitchen calm before the storm
Kitchen calm before the storm


Potato Day in Drimpton is far more than just potatoes. There is time for family fun, which this year saw the stage (rather more used to hosting the village pantomime, of which more in PANTO: The MANUAL) turned over to the creation of Valentine cards using potato prints under the guidance and inspiration of Jenny Beck and helpers. Food always plays a big part in a village which does seem to have bagged more than its fair share of brilliant cooks, coordinated by Rosemary Shepherd and Kate Hesketh. In addition to all day breakfasts and baked potatoes there we loads of cakes and bakes, nearly all of which went.

Mike and Chris hunting a signal
Mike and Chris hunting a signal

John and Mick on traffic duty
John and Mick on traffic duty
Visitors arriving
Visitors arriving



Chatting to Chris Smith from Pennard Plants, as we were packing up, he said that they had found much more interest in the Heritage & Heirloom Vegetable Seeds. I know many gardeners like to use some of the modern varieties, but I notice both in Garden Organic magazine and The Garden, from the RHS, that plenty of gardeners are renewing acquaintance with some older varieties and trying some less familiar ones. Certainly I had great success with two different varieties of tomato seeds in the last couple of years: Cosmonaut Volcov and Black Prince, both bought at Potato Day.

We had no hesitation in booking for next year - Saturday 6th February 2016.

If you missed our Potato Day, you may be in time to catch another, here is a list of Potato Days

I've also posted this on my gardening blog - Soggydaygardener




Wednesday, February 4, 2015

This Saturday - Potato Day

Saturday 7th February, 10:30 to 2:30
Our 8th Annual Potato Day 
Spuds and more …good food and family activities


“There will be a complete array of products to meet your fruit and veggie growing needs for the new year and we hope to help you kick start your Gardening Season.
There will be 60+ varieties of seed potatoes, all for sale by the single tuber, plus onion sets, shallots, garlic, a range of heritage seeds, fruit trees, soft fruit, kitchen garden plants and so much more.” (Chris Smith, Pennard Plants).



Potato Growing competition, 
(for young people and adults – weigh-in on Show Day, Saturday 8th August)


Enjoy the renowned Drimpton food, with all day brunches, lunches and cakes, as well as warming drinks. The popular family activities will be here, fun for everyone. Please join us, whether you are an experienced grower or just starting out on veggies, you will find this a friendly and useful event.

There is no need to book, there is a small entry fee of 50p, which includes a tea or coffee.
We are on Chard Road (B3162), Drimpton, between Chard and Beaminster.
For SatNav: DT8 3RF